Projects Abroad Volunteer Programs in Tanzania

My experience in Arusha, Tanzania was amazing. To start my project was very educating and enabled me to practice many of the techniques that I have been observing. I was used heavily to take the heavy burden off of the limited staff. I was able to watch and assist with several births and help for extensive hours in the baby clinic. Overall, I am leaving the experience much more knowledgable about women's health and skilled at managing large groups of individuals. In terms of my accommodations and host family, both were amazing. My host family was located very close to the city so I didn't have to travel far to do anything or go to work in the morning. I was also located very close to the other volunteers so I got to spend a vast amount of time with them and gained so many new friends. The food in my household was very traditional yet as a picky eater sometimes I did not like the food. But if I asked for something different then the maids would make something to my liking. The best part of the experience and one that probably made the opportunity go so smooth was how helpful the Projects Abroad staff were. I arrived very late at night yet a Projects Abroad staff member was at the airport to meet me and answer all of my questions that night as well as they all followed up numerous times ensuring that I was comfortable in every setting. Overall the experience was remarkable. What an experience

My 4 weeks in Dar es Salaam were the greatest experience of my life. My only regret is not staying for longer! The staff at Projects Abroad was phenomenal- they arranged a great homestay and medical placement, made sure I felt safe and comfortable, and were truly invested in me having a positive experience. They always checked in to make sure I felt safe commuting to the hospital, was eating enough and staying hydrated. They also assisted in transportation to and from the airport, with packing, and with organizing weekend trips.

At the hospital, I was in the minor surgery ward, where I assisted in a variety of minor surgical procedures alongside Dr. Maganga and his nursing staff at Sinza Palestina Hospital. After two weeks, additional volunteers joined me, and as a group we gained the confidence to assist as much as possible. The staff was gracious for our assistance and were happy to answer any questions we had. We all saw procedures that we would never see in the United States and had the opportunity to assist with procedures that we could have only dreamed of.

During the weekends, my friends and I traveled to Zanzibar and the Selous Game Reserve for a 3 day safari. We also went out to dinner, explored the city and learned about the culture surrounding us. The friends I made will remain in my life forever.

I learned a vast amount of knowledge medically and culturally, never felt safer, and miss Tanzania daily. I am looking forward to participating in another Projects Abroad trip this spring before I begin graduate school and remain in contact with my friends, supervising physician and Projects Abroad staff to this day!

I was a first timer in Arusha, Tanzania going overseas to volunteer in a hospital and gain experience. I found so much more than just a volunteer experience and educational gain. Before I left and while I was there in Tanzania, Projects Abroad was with me every step. They helped me get a visa and work permit and placed me with the most wonderful host family. I felt incredibly safe the whole time I was there and was very prepared for most things I would encounter. I was placed in the labor ward at Mount Meru Hospital and assisted with the birth of countless babies. While I was only there for ten days, this trip made a huge impact on my life. I would have never been able to do it by myself and going overseas with Projects Abroad is a choice I will never regret.

I went on my five week expedition with Projects Abroad in January of 2015. In Tanzania, I was in the Medicine program at Mwananyamala Hospital in Dar Es Salaam. That experience was what made everything worth it. During the five weeks that I was at the hospital, I rotated through the laboratory, the minor surgical ward, the major surgical ward, obstetrics, gynaecology, and paediatrics. The doctors in most of the wards were extremely helpful and taught us a lot of the medicine that they were practicing. It was a very hands on experience and I not only got to learn a lot, but I got to do a lot as well.

Also while in Dar Es Salaam, we lived with a local family. Being able to eat the home cooked food was definitely another wonderful addition to the expedition. The food was so good that there were days where all I could think about was going home for lunch and dinner. Hearing the stories of those who I lived with for those five weeks was also spectacular.

A really cool thing that they did during the volunteer program was Dirty Days. These days wouldn't be spent doing the normal project, but would instead have all of the volunteers from all of the programs come together and help the community. I ended up spending a day at an orphanage and another day painting a couple classrooms.

Overall, the experience was completely worth it. There was so much support from Projects Abroad that it felt like it was impossible to go wrong.

Last summer I decided to volunteer through Projects Abroad in Tanzania. I had the opportunity to work at a school and an orphanage in the local village of USA River which is a Dala Dala (a Tanzania taxi bus of sorts) from the city of Arusha. Initially I part took in the 2 week high school special. This was an amazing way to meet other high school aged volunteers from around the world, with the same commitment to volunteering. I met some of my closest friends to this day, and they are from Holland, Dubai, while I am from the USA. Projects abroad will provide you with an experience that you won’t forget! I decide to stay an entire month because of the amazing staff I met, and their support encouraged me to continue volunteering. They are extremely supportive from the very first informational email, to the taxi back to the airport the staff was there for you. When I arrived in Tanzania one of the staff members picked me up from the airport, introduced me to the host family I was living with, and then the next day took me around the town to orient me to where I would be living. The next day a staff member took me to my volunteer placement at the school and helped me find my way around. While having the chance to be fully immersed in the Tanzanian culture the office also provided language lessons to enhance your experience. I went to two separate sections of classes and loved both the local teacher and support staff. I would without hesitation recommend Projects Abroad for your Volunteer Organization! If you want to be the change that you want to see, contact Projects Abroad today!

The three month microfinance project that I worked on through Project’s Abroad not only deepened my knowledge and understanding of micro lending , but it also provided me with a hands on, multi-cultural experience. From the day that I landed in Tanzania, Project’s Abroad was very intentional about making sure that my volunteer experience was top notch. After my second day in Arusha, Tanzania I began working on my microfinance project. Through this project I received a lot of experience on how to do business counseling to poor and illiterate small business owners. As a team we worked with nearly 50 women in order to help them further their livelihoods and better their businesses. I was able to help and educate these women in need. Through my three months that I spent on my project I felt like I was able to make a lasting impact on the women who we served.

Another aspect of this organization that I really thought was beneficial to the whole experience was staying at the host family. The host family that I stayed with was incredible! They treated me as if I had been their son from the day that I got there. They were able to help me with any questions/concern that I had not only with my project, but also with the culture in general. My experience would not have been the same if I had not stayed at a host family’s home. This opportunity also gave me the chance to meet other volunteers that were staying at the family with me. In the short time that I was there I was able to make some of my best friends through Project’s Abroad. I would highly recommend Project’s Abroad to anyone.

Last year, I spent two months volunteering at Mwanayamala Hospital in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. There, I rotated through the different departments of the hospital, bandaging wounds, growing lab samples, observing surgeries, and conversing with doctors. The doctors at Mwanayamala Hospital were incredibly friendly and taught me a lot about medicine, infectious disease, and Tanzania. Outside of my time at the hospital, I was also able to visit breathtaking beaches and waterfalls, and go on a safari with other volunteers. Although I didn't always feel safe in Dar es Salaam because it is a large city with a certain amount of crime, the support provided by Projects Abroad was amazing. They gave me a tour of the city on my first day, made sure I knew how to make my way around town, and they were very easily accessible for any sort of assistance throughout my stay. Volunteering with Projects Abroad also helped me become comfortable with travel abroad and helped me discover my passion for service and for public health. Although Projects Abroad is quite pricy, the memories I gained and the friendships I've formed are priceless.

During my volunteer internship at a local government hospital in Dar es Salaam I was able to have the most eye opening experience of my life. Day to day I would work under the supervision of doctors, nurses and students who were always more than willing to take time and talk you through everything that was happening in the hospital. I was assigned to work in a certain ward each week, but if I felt uncomfortable in a certain place I was free to change that schedule. The staff was welcoming and allowed me to assist in as much as possible.
My home stay was by far the best part. My family opened their arms and treated me as one of their own. This experience made me completely immersed into the culture. I ate all of my meals with the family and participated in family parties and outings.
Though the people in Dar aren't strangers to outsiders, you will be stared at and treated differently. You will have a safe and fun experience if you listen to the Projects Abroad staff on safe travels.